Estonian Embassy inaugurated in Chișinău; Popșoi calls it a "historic moment" for Moldova-Estonia relations
Estonia is strengthening its diplomatic presence in the Republic of Moldova by opening a permanent diplomatic mission in Chișinău—an event described by Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs Mihai Popșoi as a "historic moment" for bilateral relations. For his part, Estonian Foreign Minister Margus Tsahkna said the Republic of Moldova is a priority country for Estonia and pledged that Tallinn would continue to support accelerating the European Union accession process.
"It is a distinct pleasure and an honor to host you here in Chișinău, especially at a historic moment for our bilateral relations: the opening of the permanent mission of the Estonian Embassy to the Republic of Moldova. I would like to take this opportunity to thank you for the decision taken, for the pledge made, and, indeed, for the inauguration we are celebrating together today," stated Mihai Popșoi during a joint press conference in Chișinău with Estonian Foreign Minister Margus Tsahkna.
The minister emphasized that the inauguration of the embassy stands as clear proof of the "relationship of friendship" between the two states.
The head of Moldovan diplomacy noted that Estonia is one of the Republic of Moldova's closest friends, owing in part to shared historical experiences and the unwavering support provided regarding the war in Ukraine and the country's European integration path.
"The relationship between our countries is exceptionally close and friendly, as Estonians understand us like few others do. Given the historical hardships we have faced, the complex times we are all navigating, the Russian Federation's aggression against Ukraine, and—above all—our shared future within the great European family, Estonia is a devoted friend to the Republic of Moldova in its process of accession to the European Union," the minister added.
"Estonia has always stood by us"
According to Popșoi, Estonia’s support for the Republic of Moldova is reflected in, among other things, development assistance and the hundreds of projects implemented in the country.
"We are grateful to Estonia and its foreign policy for prioritizing the Republic of Moldova, including regarding development and technical assistance on our path to European Union accession. Estonia has always stood by us, and the resilience we have built in recent years is also the result of the close relationship we share with our Estonian partners," stated Popșoi.
The minister noted that he would also travel to Bălți with his counterpart to view projects carried out with Estonia's support and observe their impact on citizens' daily lives.
"Estonia has implemented hundreds of projects in our country, and tomorrow, together, we will have the opportunity to visit Bălți to see the generosity of the Estonian people in action—to see how these projects help the citizens of the Republic of Moldova in their daily lives," said the head of Moldovan diplomacy.
Popșoi expressed confidence that the Republic of Moldova would make progress in the European Union accession process in the near future, thanks in part to the support of its European partners. "Thanks to the support of our European Union partners and the efforts and reforms we are undertaking, we are firmly convinced that, in the coming weeks and months, we will open all the remaining clusters in the EU accession process, enabling us to soon focus our thinking and actions on closing specific chapters. This is made possible by the efforts of the administration in Chișinău and the citizens of the Republic of Moldova, but also by the unprecedented solidarity and political openness shown by our European friends—with Estonia serving as a prime example in this regard," the minister stated.
Margus Tsahkna: "Moldova is a priority country for us"
At the same time, Estonian Foreign Minister Margus Tsahkna stated that the opening of the embassy in Chișinău fulfills a promise made several years ago and reaffirms the priority status of relations with the Republic of Moldova.
"The time has come to honor the promise I made a few years ago. Indeed, Moldova is a priority country for us in terms of cooperation. I believe I am the happiest Estonian Foreign Minister, as I have the opportunity to inaugurate the Estonian Embassy in the Republic of Moldova. We are delighted to be here together to mark this occasion," said Tsahkna.
The Estonian official emphasized that a permanent diplomatic presence in Chișinău sends a clear signal of Tallinn's commitment to the Republic of Moldova.
"The embassy is a symbol of our shared commitment. I am very grateful, as having this permanent mission in a country like Moldova is extremely important. It is truly remarkable how your government—and you personally—are driving these reforms forward, bringing Moldova closer to the European Union," stated Margus Tsahkna.
He reaffirmed his country's support for the Republic of Moldova's progress in the European integration process, noting that the authorities in Chișinău have taken the necessary steps to open the next negotiation clusters. Tsahkna also said Estonia aims to strengthen relations with the Republic of Moldova in culture and education, acknowledging the progress our country has made.
"Once again, I congratulate you on all the progress achieved, and I can tell you that the Republic of Moldova is currently going through a truly historic moment. We sincerely hope that we will enjoy lasting peace and prosperity," concluded Margus Tsahkna.
A Tallinn-Chisinau flight: a "homework assignment"
During a joint press conference with his counterpart from Tallinn, Mihai Popșoi highlighted the growing interest of Estonian investors in the Moldovan market and called upon the Estonian business community to seize the opportunities presented by the pre-accession period to the European Union.
"We are pleased that an increasing number of Estonian investors are entering the Moldovan market. We will continue to encourage this trend, and I have urged my good friend Margus to encourage the Estonian business community to come to the Moldovan market—especially during this favorable pre-accession phase. Once we are integrated into the great European family, the environment will become much more competitive, and Estonia is well-versed in this experience," said Popșoi.
The official also noted the need to establish a direct air link between the two countries, describing this objective as a "homework assignment."
"Our relations—whether political, cultural, or people-to-people—are very close, yet we still need to work on establishing a direct air connection, which would be of great help to us. This is, perhaps, a 'homework assignment' for us, but we are firmly confident that, thanks to Estonia's sincere support, the Republic of Moldova will achieve its set goals," concluded Mihai Popșoi.
Estonian Foreign Minister Margus Tsahkna is paying an official visit to the Republic of Moldova on October 5–6. His schedule also includes meetings with President Maia Sandu.
On the second day of the visit, the two foreign ministers will travel to Bălți to attend the launch of the IMPACT North project—aimed at regional development in support of the Republic of Moldova’s European integration—and will give a public lecture at Alecu Russo State University.
The decision to open an Estonian embassy in Chișinău was made by the government in Tallinn and announced to the Moldovan authorities in November 2025.
At the time, Mihai Popșoi stated that the initiative demonstrated the quality of relations between the two states and Estonia's support for the Republic of Moldova's European integration path.
Estonia cooperates with the Republic of Moldova in areas such as e-governance, cybersecurity, and education.
Prior to the opening of the permanent mission in Chișinău, the Estonian Embassy to the Republic of Moldova was based in Bucharest.
Diplomatic relations between the Republic of Moldova and Estonia were established on November 10, 1992, after both states attained independence.
The Republic of Moldova recognized Estonia's independence on August 28, 1991, while Estonia recognized the Republic of Moldova on February 20, 1992.
Estonia supports the Republic of Moldova's European path, and cooperation between the two countries intensified after Chișinău submitted its application for European Union membership in 2022.
